Fake regeneration images are ‘misleading the public’

Bridgend County Borough Council is urging people to disregard any unofficial CGI images that they may see online which purport to show what proposed housing could look like in the Salt Lake and Porthcawl waterfront regeneration areas. 

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Economic Development and Housing, has said that the fake images are ‘causing confusion, misleading the public and spreading misinformation’. 

She said: “They may have been put together with the best of intentions, but the mocked-up, fake images do not represent what we are trying to achieve in Porthcawl, nor are they based upon the latest proposals that we are in the process of updating. 

“Unfortunately, based on emails I have received and some of the comments made directly on the fake image posts, many people appear to believe that they are genuine, so I have to again stress that they are nothing of the sort. This will become obvious later this autumn when we release our own official images which will accurately illustrate our ambitious final proposals for the regeneration area. 

“While our plans include just under a thousand much-needed new homes, we should remember that they are being proposed against the wider backdrop of a national housing crisis. They will be spread all throughout the regeneration area, and will be community-focused properties suitable for a mix of families, people who live alone, couples just starting out, older residents and more. 

“To ensure that this can help as many people as possible, including residents who feel like they have been priced out of their hometown, up to half of all the new housing will be classed as affordable, and will be accompanied by additional amenities and infrastructure and evenly distributed parking facilities.

“Public engagement has been a cornerstone of the regeneration process, and we have held no fewer than 10 consultation events on specific parts of the regeneration proposals in the last five years alone. As a result, we have tried to include as many of the ideas and facilities suggested by residents in the final plans as possible. 

“This means that in addition to housing, the proposals also feature things like new shops, cafes, restaurants and kiosks, pump tracks and skate parks, multi-use games areas, pocket parks, new play areas, and plenty of flexible open space suitable for hosting seasonal events such as fairs, fairground rides, ice rinks and speciality markets.

“With extensive landscaping throughout and a substantial green corridor winding through the regeneration zone that reconnects with the waterfront, Griffin Park could more than triple in size and benefit from a wide range of new facilities, such as a climbing wall and a fully equipped fitness trail.

“Sandy Bay will also be transformed with new coastal defences in the form of stepped revetments leading down onto the beach, and all-new opportunities for fresh retail units along the promenade.

“These plans are intended to complement existing aspects of the regeneration which have already been completed, such as the Metro Link or Cosy Corner, so that as a whole, they can best serve the needs of residents and visitors alike, and ultimately ensure that Porthcawl can enjoy a sustainable and prosperous future.

“I would ask anyone who views the fake images in the meantime to remember that they do not reflect the reality of our regeneration proposals, and to reserve judgement until later this autumn when you will have ample opportunity to view accurate, official images of what we have planned.”